Joseph Esch

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, September 1927

Esch - Joseph, son of Christian and Anna Esch was born July 16, 1851 in the township where he resided through life. Last winter he passed through a severe sickness from which he never fully recovered, although he was able to be about until a few days before his death on Sunday, Aug. 28, 1927; aged 76 y., 1 m., 12 d. He accepted Christ as his Savior in early life and remained faithful to his Christian vows until the end. His church membership was with the Partridge Mennonite Church, near Metamora, Ill. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Bachman on March 3, 1874. To this union six children were born; (Henry, Samuel, Christian, Martha, Joseph J., and Peter D.). On Dec. 29, 1889, his wife was called by the angel of death. He was again united in marriage Feb. 25, 1891, to Lizzie Stauffer of Tiskilwa, Ill. In October of the same year this second union was broken by the death angel. On September 26, 1893, he was married to Hattie Schertz. To this union two children were born; (Frieda and Raymond). Brother Esch was a successful farmer. He met with many discouragements and bitter experiences. All these he bore patiently, exemplifying a true Christian spirit. The ruggedness of his life journey developed in him worthy characteristics. He was always sympathetic towards others, especially toward those in need. He was a faithful husband and a devoted father. He leaves his devoted wife, four children. (Samuel, Joseph, Peter, and Mrs. Frieda Grove), one sister (Mrs. Peter Schertz), six children, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by one brother (Peter Esch). Dec. 1912, and by four of his children. Funeral services at the Calvary Mennonite Church conducted by Valentine Stubhar and Ezra B. Yordy.

Buried:
Glendale Cemetery

Joseph married Elizabeth Bachman on 3 Mar 1874 in Woodford Co., IL. Elizabeth (daughter of Joseph Bachman and Barbara Steider) was born in 1852; died on 15 Nov 1891; was buried in Metamora, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Henry Esch was born on 7 Mar 1875 in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL; died on 24 Feb 1918 in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL.
2. Samuel Esch was born in 1876; died in 1948.
3. Christian Esch
4. Martha Esch was born in 1880; died in 1882.
5. Joseph J. Esch was born in 1884; died in 1957.
6. Peter D. Esch was born in 1887; died in 1952.

Joseph married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stauffer on 25 Feb 1891. Elizabeth was born in 1853; died on 15 Nov 1891. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Hattie Schertz on 26 Sep 1893. Hattie was born on 31 Jul 1855 in IN; died on 1 Nov 1934 in Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer and minister
• Religion: Mennonite
• Immigration: 1837, New Orleans, LA
• Census: 1870, Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

He was orphaned in 1824 at 5 years of age, and raised by a Güngerich or Nafziger family at Bourscheid, Moselle. (Descendant Susan Esch Lees writes that Daniel had at least two siblings. Sister Katharina Esch was born in 1816. Brother Joseph Esch was born in 1822. He married Elisabeth Güngrich, a daughter of Johannes Güngrich and Elisabeth Imhoff of the Wilensteinerhof at Mittelbach near Zweibrücken. The couple had 'adopted' him and gave Joseph and Elisabeth a house as a wedding present.)

In 1837 he sailed from Le Havre on the Marengo, arriving at New Orleans Nov. 25. The Marengo was the same ship that had brought elder Christian Engel's son Joseph to New Orleans in 1836. The customs list includes these passengers from steerage: Jean Nafziger, 35; Anna [Gerber], 29; Pierre, 4; Cath, 2; Catherine Murer, 57 (Catherine Maurer, mother of Jean Nafziger); Madelaine Nafziger, 25; Catherine, 19; and Christian Esch, 18.

For several winters Christian worked at a flour mill near Pekin, returning to his home on weekends; he cultivated his own crops in summer. His household appears on the 1850 census of Woodford County as farmer Christian Ash, 30, France; Ann, 24, France; and Peter, 2, Illinois.

Christian was ordained as a minister of the Partridge Mennonite congregation in 1852. The congregation had been established by elder Christian Engel, and was later called Metamora Mennonite Church. The 1860 census of Worth has farmer Christian Esch, 41, France; Ann, 36, France; Peter, 12, Illinois; and Joseph, 8, Illinois. In 1867 Christian was ordained bishop of the Partridge congregation. His bound ledger of sermons 1849-82 is now in the archives at Goshen College.

Birth:
Dorst farm

Immigration:
On the ship Marengo, as a steerage passenger, along with his adoptive Nafziger family

Census:
Farmer Christian Esch, 62, Bavaria; Annie, 56, Bavaria; and Lena, 18, Illinois.

Buried:
Hickory Point Cemetery

Christian married Anna Gerber on 30 Aug 1846 in Woodford Co., IL. Anna (daughter of Pierre Gerber and Magdalena Güngerich) was born on 10 Aug 1827 in Gensbourg, Oberhaslach, Haut-Rhin, FR; died on 17 May 1898 in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Metamora, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Hickory Point Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
Aug 20? source 552

Notes:

Birth:
Gendersberg property at Hanviller

Died:
Dorst farm

Christian married Magdalena Nafziger on 13 Sep 1813 in Walternbourg, Moselle, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Christian Nafziger and Katharina Maurer) was born about 1792 in Waltembourg, Moselle, FR; died on 19 Sep 1824 in Hanviller, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Gendersbergerhof

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1840

Notes:

Peter and Elizabeth are found on the 1850 census of District 56 (Woodford County) as farmer Peter Garber, 57, France; Elizabeth, 47, Germany; and Jacobina, 23, Germany.

Buried:
Hickory Point Cemetery

Pierre married Magdalena Güngerich on 19 May 1813 in Kutzenhausen, Bas-Rhin, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Chrisitan Güngerich and Katharina Wagler) was born on 29 May 1795 in Kutzenhausen, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 2 Nov 1848; was buried in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

All of the children were born at Gensbourg, and recorded at Oberhaslach.

Buried:
Hickory Point Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Abt 1779
• Residence: Aft 1788

Notes:

In Bern an Ösch is an ash tree, and the word occurs relatively frequently in place names. Surname variations include Oesch, Esch (found most often in France), Eash (found most often in Pennsylvania), Asche, and Ash. Two Ösch descendants became prominent in Tazewell and Woodford Counties.

Birth:
?

Residence:
Gendersbergerhof

Residence:
Dorsterhof

Died:
Wahlerhof

Josef married Magdalena SchertzLorentzen, Bas-Rhin, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Nicholas Schertz and Barbe Birki) was born in 1743; died in 1801. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Settled in Bourscheid where all his children were born, then settled in Saint-Jean Kourtzerode, where he became deputy mayor. His death certificate in Saint-Jean-Kourtzerode in 1829, at the age of 54, mentions that he was born in Waltembourg, in the Steinbacherhof, Durstel commune.

Died:
At age 54

Christian + Katharina Maurer. Katharina was born in 1780 in Waltembourg, Moselle, FR; died in 1845 in IL; was buried in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“ She immigrated on 25 Nov 1837 to , , The Port Of Havre DE Grace, , Louisiana, ,. 25 November 1837, The Port Of Havre DE Grace On The Ship Marengo Arriving In New Orleans. [From The Nafzger Heritage News, Fall 1994] The ship list shows them bringing seven chests, three guns, and bedding. They were "steerage passengers". When Johannes' brother, Christian, and his two sisters, Jakobina and Barbara, arrived is unknown.

Buried:
Union Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer And Dairyman
• USR1: Yellow Fever
• Immigration: 26 Jun 1840, New Orleans, LA

Notes:

Lived on Gensburg near Oberhaslach (near Schirmeck), Dept. Bas-Rhin, Lower Alsace.

Nicholas Gerber and Magdalena/Madeléne Bechler, died of yellow fever on their way to Tazewell County in 1840.

Immigration:
Arrived on ship named Marcia Cleaves

Nicholas + Madelaine Bechler (Bacher). Madelaine (daughter of Christian Bechler (Bacher) and Madeleine Oesch (Esch)) was born in 1779; died in Jul 1840 in Baton Rouge, LA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
On her families way to Tazewell Co.

Notes:

Perhaps Christian’s mother was a first wife of Peter.

Chrisitan + Katharina Wagler. Katharina (daughter of Jean Wagler and Anna Birki) was born in 1767 in Diemeringen, Drulingen, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 23 Jan 1852 in Kutzenhausen, Bas-Rhin, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Neumatte estate

Died:
Witness: Pierre Gingrich (1792-1863)